SDR4Oliver

(Version Française à la fin de la page.merci)

Oliver was born in 2008 at 26 weeks gestation, weighing less than 2lbs. As a result of his extreme prematurity, he suffers from Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage very early in life.It takes many forms, but in Oliver’s instance, it causes extremely tight and painful muscles in his legs, poor balance and regular falls.Oliver constantly walks on tip toe, so can only manage short distances before his legs become painful and tired. Although CP in itself is not degenerative, its effects will increase as Oliver grows, even with high levels of physiotherapy. Oliver will require multiple orthopaedic operations as he grows and it is predicted that as he reaches adulthood, he will use a wheelchair, particularly outdoors, in unknown, or uneven terrain.

There is, however, an operation available that could change this – Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The modern form of SDR was originally developed in America. It is a spinal operation whereby the spine is opened up to reveal the spinal cord and nerves inside. Using electrical stimulation, the surgeon can identify those nerves causing spasticity, and cut them, thereby permanently removing the spasticity. There is no other permanent treatment for Cerebral Palsy.

Oliver has been accepted for the operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London.SDR is a new service at GOSH, having been recently introduced by the neurosurgeon, Mr Kristian Aquilina. Mr Aquilina originally introduced SDR to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, and having trained other neurosurgeons to continue the service in Bristol, he has now moved to on to start the procedure at GOSH. Unfortunately, despite GOSH being an NHS hospital, Oliver’s application for NHS funding has been refused.

The operation would remove the tightness in Oliver’s muscles, allowing him to walk with a more normal gait and to put his feet flat with heels to the floor. This in turn would prevent the pains that Oliver experiences. The operation would greatly reduce the number of orthopaedic operations that Oliver will require in the future and would mean that he could run, jump and climb up and down stairs, just like any other little boy. Most importantly, it would mean that Oliver could continue to walk unaided, even as he goes into adulthood.

Despite his disability, Oliver is a very intelligent, charismatic and fun loving little boy, who is already only too aware of his limitations. He is already very conscious of other people’s reactions to his disability and of having to wear unsightly leg braces. To be able to walk with a normal gait, and to be perceived to be ‘normal’ would be truly life changing for him.